ASIO warns of rise in home-grown terrorism

ASIO is currently dealing with about 200 active counter-terrorism investigations.

ABC

The nation's spy chief says Australia is increasingly at risk of home-grown terrorism.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general David Irvine says there has been a rise in the efforts of some Australians to support violent jihad, although the number remains "very small" in absolute terms.

"It's a fact that we continue to have in Australia people who believe that violence is the way to fulfil perceived religious obligations," Mr Irvine told a security in government conference.

"They reject outright Australia's right to democratic self-governance and our separation of church and state."

Mr Irvine says a mixture of good work and good luck has prevented more large-scale attacks like those seen on September 11, 2001.

Though, he says it would be dangerous to assume all future terrorism plots will be detected.

"The threat will remain as long as the proponents of violent jihad stay committed to the promotion of their objectives by violent means," he said.

"The suicide bomber, with an absolute belief in martyrdom leading to a blessed eternity in another world, remains a particularly dangerous phenomenon."

Mr Irvine says the security issue is not so much their beliefs but that they are prepared to use extremely violent measures to achieve their goals.

"We're seeing at the moment less importation of foreign terrorists... but of concern is a rise in efforts by Australians who wish to support acts of terrorism in Australia or travel overseas," he said.

He says ASIO is aware of a small but steady number of Australians seeking to travel overseas for terrorist training or to participate in armed conflict.

The ASIO boss says the intelligence agency is currently dealing with about 200 active counter-terrorism investigations.